PORT ORCHARD – A manual recount of ballots counted in Kitsap County for the 26th Legislative District Senate race will take place Dec. 6. Preparation for the counting will be Dec. 4-5.

Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman ordered the recount on Thursday after Kitsap and Pierce County certified their election results. With final results in, Democrat Emily Randall led Republican Marty McClendon by 104 votes and had 50.07 percent of the vote to McClendon's 49.93 percent, a 0.14-percentage-point difference. State law (RCW 29A.64.021) calls for a manual recount in legislative races if the difference is less than 150 votes and one quarter of one percentage point.

The recount process from Dec. 4-7 is a public meeting and observers are welcome. Observers may not disrupt the process. Space is limited. The order of priority for observers is determined by WAC 434-264-030.

Counting on Thursday will begin at 8 a.m. The Kitsap County Elections Canvassing Board is scheduled to meet Friday, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. to certify the results of the recount.